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Comment by rb808 | Hacker News Reader

The Salary chart is interesting, both because of how US developers earn more than other Western countries, but mainly how a median developer with 20 years experience earns 60% more than a first job developer. I wonder how many other professions have that low a rate of pay increase - or maybe its just grads are overpaid, not sure.

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Yeah, the numbers are weird. I'm in SF, full-stack, with 20+ years of experience (and leading several successful exits), but I can't seem to get a job making as much as a mid-career developer (according to that calculator).

To be fair though, I don't have time or patience for long interview processes. But, on the other hand, a lot of times I get rejected just after the phone screen (with no feedback, of course).

I could coach you if you want, I'm also in SF. I do a lot of those interviews from the other side. You can get my contact info in my user info page.

I certainly haven't reached 20 years of developer experience, but I wonder if many (most?) individuals with that level of experience will move up the hierarchy rather than staying focused on software. Those managerial or client-oriented/sales/"solutions architect" roles pay more.

I think some of this is just compression over time. I'm at exactly 20 years experience, and I currently make 500% what I made in my first year. That's more of a statement about salaries in 1997 than salaries now, though. I think the low-end has moved dramatically upwards, while the top-end hasn't increased as quickly.

But are you adjusting for inflation or comparing 1997 dollars to 2017 dollars?

(which you can do here:)

https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

I think a developer after 3-5 years experience actually makes more than double a new grad.

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